Regal Arts

My Real Family

The following months were simple. Just planning and more smile filled days, except for the few bicker-some arguments Robin and I had, which usually ended in him kissing me and then us laughing over our foolishness. Robin and I had picked out a date for the wedding in the spring, like I wanted, and chose red as the main color. There would also be touches of white and silver sprinkled throughout the venue. I spent almost a full month researching a place for Regal Arts, as Robin and I were down to the last penny. I had gotten a part time job at an art store to make a few extra dollars. We had developed a sort of routine every week, weekdays were simple, just me driving Roland to school and going to work then coming home right on time to get Roland and make dinner. Robin would get home around six-thirty and then we'd all eat dinner together before tucking Roland in and going to bed. Wednesdays Roland carpooled with Mary-Margaret, as she got a part time job as the schools art teacher, and I had to be at work early that day. On Fridays Robin would come home from work early and after dinner we'd all cuddle up on the couch for some sort of disney movie before bed. Saturdays we slept in and then would usually do something special like a picnic in the park, or putt-putting. We were happy, we were perfect.

*****

I finally found a place for Regal Arts, it is a good price for the size and location. I've finished my trip to the bank to get a loan, and now I 'm on my way to meet the owner of the building. When I arrive I'm greeted by a shorter man, with a short black buzz cut, and dressed in a loose fitting suit. He waits outside the door and I approach him with a smile. "Hello Ms. Mills, I'm Isaac and I'm the owner of this property." He states, firmly shaking my hand.

"Hello Isaac." I greet nodding my head before we walk in to the rather spacious building. The walls are blue and Forrest green, and the floors are concrete. I assume there were once floors there before but they were probably ripped up. I don't have the money to do much renovations so I eye the room, my creative mind going to work. I in vision where each different room will be, where we'll put the closets and what colors we'll paint the walls.  I see it all coming together in my head as I walk around the building. I walk out the backdoor and notice a smaller but good-sized outdoor area for the kids. This is the right place I think to myself. "What did this used to be before?" I ask turning around to face Isaac.

"Um it was a bookstore slash cafe." he stutters looking around. I notice the way he zones out probably reminiscing what it used to be.

I hand him the money, sign the forms and take down the 'For Sale' sign outside. On the car drive home I two way call Emma and Mary-Margaret and we discuss the plans for Regal Arts.

*****

I may dress casual but never this casual. I look at myself in the mirror not appreciating the way  the overalls fit my body. They're just baggy and make me feel frumpy. I jump when I feel two arms wrap around my torso. "Robin" I heave out in relief that its only him. "Do I have to wear these" I beg toward him sticking out my lower lip.

"Not if you don't want to, but personally I think you look sexy." he smirks tightening his hold in my waist, before pecking my cheek with a soft kiss. I tilt my head in the mirror before concluding its not worth the time and effort changing, since were already late as it is. "So what do you say we go paint a school" He says doing a sort of curtsey offering me his hand. I giggle before curtseying back and grabbing his hand, "I'd be honored." He grips my hand and twirls me in to him before his lips land on mine. "Then let us be off! Your carriage awaits me queen!" He announces dramatically and I laugh as we walk out of our apartment to the car/carriage.

We arrive to a room filled with our closest friends. John, Ruby, Emma, Killian, Henry, Mary-Margaret, David, and baby Neal  who is sleeping in his carseat. The room also has a small foldable table set up in the middle holding a speaker, chips, crackers, and water. Next to the table is all the paint buckets filled with the colors Emma, Mary, Ruby, and I had picked out. We begin painting, separating in to groups of two or three. Emma, Mary-Margaret, and I take the largest wall, John and Robin take the one directly across, Ruby and Henry take the small wall in the corner, and David and Killian go outside to set up the play structure. Emma, Mary, and I begin painting the originally blue wall a plain white color, which we were later going to paint an amateur mural on.